Remarks.—This species is called mockernut by text books, and bull hickory in the vicinity of New Albany.
5a. Carya alba variety subcoriàcea Sargent. Trees and Shrubs 2:207:1913. Only one tree of this variety is known in Indiana and it is located in Posey County on the bank of the cypress swamp about 13 miles southwest of Mt. Vernon. Specimens from this tree were sent to Sargent and he referred them to this variety.[23] It differs from the type in the larger size and shape of the fruit and nut. The dried fruit is 5 cm. long, oblong. The nut is oblong, 4.4 cm. long, pointed at both ends, or some nuts somewhat ovate in shape and more rounded at the base, little compressed and strongly angled; shell very thick, 5 mm. at the thinnest place; kernel very small and sweet. The nut easily distinguishes it from all forms of hickory. The author has bought hickory nuts for table use for several years from Posey County and this nut is frequently found in the assortment which shows that this variety is more or less frequent in that section.
6. Carya glàbra (Miller) Spach. Black Hickory. [Plate 27.] Very tall medium sized trees, up to 7 dm. in diameter; bark tight, usually dark, fissures shallow on some and quite deep on others; twigs reddish-brown, glabrous, terminal buds small, ovoid, about 7-12 mm. long; ordinary leaves 2-3 dm. long; leaflets generally lanceolate, sometimes quite wide, or wider beyond the middle, prevailing number 5, the terminal usually 11-19 cm. long, somewhat pubescent on unfolding, more or less pubescent below at maturity, usually only the midrib, axils and larger veins with hairs; fruit generally smooth and obovoid, rarely globose or oval, 22-40 mm. long; husk sometimes not opening, more often one or more of the sutures open to less than half way, 1-2 mm. thick; nut about 20-30 mm. long and 16-25 mm. wide, rounded at the apex, elongated and rounded at the base, angles wanting or obscure; shell very hard and thick, about 1.5 mm. thick at the thinnest point; kernel sweet and astringent; wood and uses same as that of the shellbark hickory.
CARYA GLABRA (Miller) Spach. Black Hickory. (× 1/2.)
The nuts are from different trees to show variation.
Distribution.—Southern Ontario south to the Gulf States and west to Texas and Iowa. This species is reported for all parts of the State. However, the records for the northern counties were made when this species was not separated from Carya ovalis, and since the latter species is quite frequent in the northern counties it is best to refer the early records to Carya ovalis. The most northern station based upon an existing specimen is the north side of the Mississinewa River east of Eaton in Delaware County. It is a frequent, common to very common tree on the hills in the southern part of the State. It has its mass distribution in the unglaciated part of the State, although it is locally a frequent to a common tree of the hills of the other southern counties. It appears that this species has the ability to invade areas after the virgin forest is cut, and it is not an uncommon sight to see this species in almost pure stands on the hills of cut-over lands.
Remarks.—This species is often called pignut. Sargent wisely suggests that this name be used exclusively for Carya cordiformis. The great abundance of this species in Brown, Morgan and Monroe Counties has been instrumental in building up a large business in the manufacture of hickory chairs and furniture. Frames of furniture are made from the very young trees, and backs and seats from the bark of old trees, which are cut, stripped of their bark, and often left to rot.